Global Entry: faster through U.S. immigration

Global Entry is a Trusted Traveler Program run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that gives pre-approved, low-risk travelers expedited entry into the United States – via automated kiosks or the free Global Entry Mobile App. Membership costs USD 120 and is valid for five years. Crucially, Global Entry is not a visa: it replaces neither ESTA nor a U.S. visa, both of which you still need to enter the country. For German citizens there is also a special route: before final U.S. approval, a pre-check by the German Federal Police is required.

This guide explains step by step how travelers from Germany can apply for Global Entry, what it costs, who benefits, and how the process works on arrival in the U.S. If you first want to understand U.S. entry and customs in general, see our companion article on U.S. entry, customs and CBP.

What Global Entry is – and what it is not

Global Entry is one of several CBP Trusted Traveler Programs. Members skip the regular line on arrival and instead use a kiosk or the Global Entry Mobile App. At busy airports this often saves significant time.

The most common misconception is that Global Entry is a kind of "fast-track visa." It is not. Global Entry is a facilitation for travelers who are already eligible – it governs only how quickly border control is processed, not whether you may enter.

Important: Global Entry replaces neither ESTA nor a U.S. visa. Visa Waiver travelers still need a valid ESTA; those who cannot use ESTA need a U.S. visa. Whether ESTA or a visa is right for you is covered in ESTA or visa?.

Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck

An often underrated benefit: Global Entry membership automatically includes TSA PreCheck. This gives you expedited security screening for domestic and departing flights within or from the United States – you frequently keep your shoes, belt and laptop in place. For travelers connecting onward inside the U.S., this is real added value already included in the USD 120 price.

How Global Entry, ESTA and visas fit together

A simple framing helps. ESTA and a visa answer the question: May I enter the U.S. at all? Global Entry answers a different one: How fast do I clear border control once I am already eligible? They do not exclude each other – a German Global Entry member still travels with a valid ESTA (or visa) and additionally enjoys faster processing.

This distinction spares you the most common mistake: assuming Global Entry makes ESTA or a visa unnecessary.

What does Global Entry cost in 2026?

The U.S. processing fee has been USD 120 since 1 October 2024 (previously USD 100) and remains unchanged. It is non-refundable, even if your application is denied. The fee covers the five-year membership and the background check.

According to the authority, the German Federal Police pre-check is free of charge, and participation in the EasyPASS-RTP program is also free. The only mandatory payment is therefore the U.S. fee of USD 120. Because fees can change, always verify the amounts on the official CBP and Federal Police pages before applying.

The special route for German citizens

Germany is a partner country whose citizens can apply for Global Entry. Unlike for U.S. citizens, however, Germans must complete an additional security check in Germany: the Federal Police (BPOL) performs a pre-check (Vorprüfung) and transmits the result to CBP.

The order matters and often causes confusion: you first create a TTP account with the U.S. authority and receive your PASSID (membership number). Only with this PASSID do you then approach the Federal Police – without a PASSID the Federal Police will not perform the pre-check.

The pre-check is carried out in person only, at the Federal Police EasyPASS offices. It is available at the airports BER (Berlin), Düsseldorf, Frankfurt/Main, Hamburg, Hannover, Cologne/Bonn and Munich. You must bring:

• a valid electronic passport,
• your PASSID (Global Entry membership number), and
• a signed declaration of consent to the pre-check.

By consenting, you agree that your travel-document data is checked against national and international police information systems. A successful Federal Police pre-check does not automatically grant admission to Global Entry; the final decision rests solely with CBP.

Tip: Plan this step early. Depending on the airport, an appointment may be required and there can be waiting times. The Federal Police only receives your data after your in-person visit and then forwards it to CBP.

Who is generally eligible?

Global Entry is open to German citizens willing to undergo the background check. Certain circumstances can lead to denial or exclude participation – such as certain criminal records, prior violations of U.S. immigration or customs rules, pending investigations, or incomplete or false statements in the application. CBP publishes no exhaustive list and reviews each case individually, reserving the decision. Truthful, complete answers are therefore not only mandatory but also your best protection against denial.

Minors can participate too. For children under 18 the U.S. fee is waived if a parent or guardian is already a member or applies concurrently. Minors need their own consent declaration for the German pre-check, signed by those with custody.

What data does the Federal Police check?

During the pre-check the Federal Police compares the data from your electronic passport against national and international police information systems, checking whether security-relevant records exist for you. The result – not the raw data – feeds into the U.S. authority's decision. Your explicit consent is the precondition for this comparison to take place; without the consent declaration there is no pre-check and therefore no participation for Germans.

How do I apply for Global Entry? Step by step

For German citizens the application runs in this order:

1. Create a TTP account: Register on the official Trusted Traveler portal (ttp.dhs.gov) and set up a login. You receive your personal PASSID.
2. Complete the application: Answer all questions about yourself, your travel documents, and your address/travel history of recent years. Be complete and accurate.
3. Pay the U.S. fee: Pay the USD 120 processing fee by credit card. The fee is non-refundable even if denied.
4. Federal Police pre-check: Book an appointment if required and appear in person at an EasyPASS office. Bring your passport, PASSID and signed consent declaration. The Federal Police transmits the result to CBP.
5. Conditional approval: After CBP review you receive a status update in your TTP account. If pre-approved, you are conditionally approved and invited to an interview.
6. Enrollment interview: Your identity and documents are verified and your biometrics (photo, fingerprints) are captured. Only then is membership active.

What is "Enrollment on Arrival"?

The final interview need not take place at an Enrollment Center. CBP offers flexible options:

• Enrollment Center: an appointment at an enrollment center (in the U.S. or at Preclearance sites).
• Enrollment on Arrival (EoA): complete the interview on your next entry into the U.S. at the airport – no separate appointment.
• Enrollment on Departure (EoD): also possible on departure at selected locations.

For travelers from Germany, Enrollment on Arrival is especially convenient, since the interview happens on U.S. soil anyway.

Which documents do I need?

For a smooth process, have ready:

• a valid electronic passport (with sufficient remaining validity for your trips),
• your PASSID from the TTP account (mandatory for the Federal Police pre-check),
• your address and travel history of recent years for the online application,
• a signed consent declaration for the Federal Police,
• at the interview, possibly a second identity document and, depending on status, proof of residence.

Keep your data current throughout the membership: a new passport or a move should be updated promptly in the TTP account to avoid problems on entry.

What happens if I am denied?

If your application is denied, you receive a notice in your TTP account. The USD 120 is not refunded. CBP usually provides no detailed reasons. You can, however, request a review through the ombudsman/redress process (e.g. DHS TRIP) if you believe the denial is mistaken. Because a denied application costs time and the fee, careful completion of the application pays off.

How Global Entry works on arrival

Once approved, entry is much faster. There are two ways:

Option 1 – Global Entry Mobile App (recommended): Download the free Global Entry Mobile App. After landing, select your arrival airport in the app and take a selfie for facial recognition. You receive an electronic receipt and can bypass the control point, going straight to the CBP officer to show the receipt. The app is available at more than 80 U.S. airports and at Preclearance locations.

Option 2 – Kiosk: Where kiosks remain, step up to the terminal, have your photo taken and follow the prompts. The kiosk prints a receipt for the exit control.

In both cases you skip the paper customs declaration and avoid the regular, often long lines. Note that CBP officers may still select you for additional inspection – membership is a privilege, not an entry guarantee.

Validity, renewal and the German repeat pre-check

Membership is valid for five years from the approval date. Renewal is mostly done online through the TTP account and usually takes only minutes; in some cases another interview may be required. Apply for renewal before expiry.

German members face a particularity: the Federal Police requires a repeat pre-check, which must be done before the end of the third membership year so participation continues seamlessly. Schedule this in good time to avoid a gap in your eligibility.

Who benefits from Global Entry?

Global Entry pays off above all for frequent travelers who fly to the U.S. several times a year – whether for business (business travelers, posted employees) or privately (family visits, longer stays). Over the five-year validity, the fee works out to about USD 24 per year. Travelers who connect onward within the U.S. also benefit from the included TSA PreCheck.

For people who travel to the U.S. only once or very rarely, the effort (TTP application, U.S. fee, in-person pre-check in Germany, interview) often outweighs the benefit. In that case a valid ESTA or visa is usually entirely sufficient.

Need help with a U.S. visa, or deciding which route fits your trip? Our visa check gives a quick overview, and you can see what we offer under services.

Common pitfalls

• Wrong order: TTP account and PASSID first, then the Federal Police – not the other way around.
• Forgetting ESTA/visa: Global Entry is not an entry authorization. Without a valid ESTA or visa you will not be admitted.
• Fee lost on denial: The USD 120 is non-refundable – fill in the application carefully.
• Missed repeat pre-check: German members must renew the BPOL pre-check before the end of the third year.
• Expired passport: If your passport expires, update the data in your TTP account.

Conclusion: Is Global Entry worth it for you?

For German travelers to the U.S., Global Entry is a well-designed comfort upgrade: a one-time USD 120 for five years of faster entry, TSA PreCheck included, and – thanks to the Global Entry Mobile App – often just a selfie instead of a long line. The key difference from the standard U.S. process is the in-person Federal Police pre-check, which you should plan early and for which you first need your PASSID.

Follow the correct order, give truthful answers, and never forget that ESTA or a visa remains mandatory – then every trip starts with a noticeably more relaxed arrival. If you are unsure which documents your specific trip requires, start with our visa check or look at our services.

The figures and procedures stated here reflect 2026; the binding details are always the official CBP and Federal Police statements at the time of your application.